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October 23, 2008 at 6:16 am #588464
TheHouseMemberI’m done debating with you people. Cast your vote and be done with this crap.
October 23, 2008 at 6:19 am #644653
JanSParticipantlol…go over to some of the foodie threads…you cook…right?
October 23, 2008 at 3:16 pm #644654
CaitParticipant*David Alan Grier sneer* Did I just hear you say…. “you people”? Because I think that’s what I just heard.
October 23, 2008 at 3:22 pm #644655
JenVMemberSanta? Did you just come early this year?
October 23, 2008 at 3:24 pm #644656
CaitParticipantJingle the MFing Bells, that’s what I say.
October 23, 2008 at 6:19 pm #644657
JimmyGMemberI care so little about the arguing and posturing over the upcoming elections, it never ceases to amaze me how wound up both sides get.
There is so much more in my daily life than who wins in the upcoming elections. Yes I’m rooting for one side to win, but not to the point of wasting my energy arguing over it here at WSB.
Does nobody get that you don’t get people to change their strongly held political/religious beliefs?
October 23, 2008 at 6:32 pm #644658
beachdrivegirlParticipantJimmyG it isnt about changing the die-hards belief. It is about educating lurkers and undecideds on what is fact and fiction. It is also about preparing them on ways each candidate will affect their future in positive and negative ways.
October 23, 2008 at 6:33 pm #644659
SuitsarenotBoringMemberAnd yet ironically, this post is likely to generate a political discussion
October 23, 2008 at 6:35 pm #644660
JoBParticipantYes, we get it…
but some of those who read don’t have strongly held views and have benefited from the breadth of information available here.
even some of us who do have strongly held political beliefs have benefited from the depth of the links that are posted here and some accompanying explanations.
if you look at it all as a contest… we become us and “you people” … and that is why some people are so unwilling to read anything that doesn’t agree with their position..
but if you look at it as what it will take to restore our daily lives to some resemblance to the american dream.. then it is just us…. and it behooves us all to get as much information as we can before making our decision.
this blog will never convince a single person who doesn’t care enough to look for the truth amidst all of the election hype…
but it may cause just enough to think about these issues to make people aware that the election is not an end to the need for political awareness.
This won’t end on election day. Regardless of how it turns out.. it will only signal the beginning of some very hard work.
October 23, 2008 at 6:42 pm #644661
JenVMemberWhat’s really hilarious about this thread is the person who started it rarely actually “debates”. Insults, yes. Debates? No.
October 23, 2008 at 6:46 pm #644662
charlabobParticipantTouche, JenV (and thank you). I was thinking about posting a definition of “debate” but didn’t want to stir up the trolls :-)
October 23, 2008 at 6:51 pm #644663
JimmyGMemberThat’s rich!
If you think any lurkers or non-political posters have been educated by any of the political fights here on WSB you’re deluded.
The only education a non-participant would gather from reading the political posts on WSB is that neither side will listen to the other, and the level of immaturity posted by their neighbors when “discussing” politics is stunning.
October 23, 2008 at 6:51 pm #644664
JoBParticipantThe first rule of debate is to know your opponents position better than your own.
There appears to be a bit of a failing on that.. sometimes on both sides.
Apparently not all of us are as diligent about learning the other side of an issue. It’s easier to just call names and cut and paste remarks.
October 23, 2008 at 6:57 pm #644665
CountingCoupMemberThat sounded pretty judgemental. It’s funny how some of us believe we have all the answers when it comes to political discourse.
The fact is that different people, value and interpet politics in different ways, and none of them are wrong.
With politics comes debate. As far as slander goes, I find that occurs in just about every walk of life.
The end result is, if you don’t enjoy the political discussion in a forum, then don’t engage.
October 23, 2008 at 7:05 pm #644666
JimmyGMemberI work in a largely Republican-based industry, and I’m the token liberal (with about 2 others) of the bunch, and we discuss politics all the time.
Never have we resorted to the name calling and attacks I’ve read in the WSB political threads. We listen and debate the upcoming elections in a mature manner that allows for both sides to be heard without having to run to Google to support our ideas, ideals or viewpoints.
October 23, 2008 at 7:17 pm #644667
CountingCoupMemberThere is big difference at poking fun at the other side or our politics and to get stuck in the political sleaziness of todays political agendas.
The whisper campaigns to the media that brought politics to this level really began in the early 80’s under the Republican umbrella of Lee Atwater and now Carl Rove.
The fact that in this election, the Democrates have learned the playbook and is using it back is just the pendulum swinging isnt it?
How can anyone expect that what happens in the politics of America doesn’t in some way reflect on each of the individuals bias toward our own political discourse?
Anyway, if Obama wins with his strategy to stay above the fray of sleaziness, then maybe the political arena will be more about issues.
October 23, 2008 at 7:23 pm #644668
AnonymousInactiveJimmyG, could some of that be because you’re face to face? It seems like part of the problem on here is missing facial ques to know someone’s intent. People get their feelings hurt or assume their thoughts and ideas are being attacked. From there, everyone becomes defensive.
Not a lot of maturity is displayed here, but I do wonder if it would look the same in person. Although, after saying that, NR and I fight just as much in person. It seems better somehow with drinking and laughing in between though.
October 23, 2008 at 7:31 pm #644669
JoBParticipantjimmyg..
i have learned a lot following the links posted on these pages… links from both sides.
no.. what i have learned has not changed my opinion, but it sure has educated me.
if this discourse can cause me to think about things i haven’t previously considered.. i think it is not naive to assume it can educate others.
October 23, 2008 at 8:35 pm #644670
acemotelParticipantThe value for me is understanding that there are people in my community, besides my friends and family, who are just as outraged at the decisions and tactics of the R campaigns.
Another value for me is to try to understand the R positions and ideas, if there is anyone in my community who could explain them to me without resorting to the tired sound bites and cliches. Because I do not have any friends who are voting for McCain. I would like to hear an intelligent argument because this phenomenon astounds me.
I try to wrap my mind around the concept of Obama as terrorist, but it doesn’t compute. I would like to understand if these people really think Obama is an imminent security threat.
What I have seen so far is that the loyalists cannot explain themselves. So that information is useful too.
I don’t think the goal of the forum is to necessarily change minds. The forum can serve any number of different purposes, i.e. to impart information; to build community; to provide an outlet for political expression; to provide solidarity……..etc…………
October 23, 2008 at 8:44 pm #644671
GenHillOneParticipantJimmyG, let’s remember too that there is a broad spectrum on both sides of the aisle. You may be conversing with a more civilized group. I found a recent Larry King show very interesting – panel was Kathleen Parker, Michelle Laxalt, and Bay Buchanan; all conservative women with long histories with the Republican party. Though I disagree with their politics, I left respecting both Parker and Laxalt for their mature, respectful contributions to the discussion. I would like to hear from more Republicans like these two.
On the other hand, Bay was up to her old tricks – defensively talking in circles, interrupting the other guests (and Larry), parroting inflammatory talking points, pointing fingers and blaming others, all while self-righteously assuming she was right on every subject. Bay Buchanan, Elizabeth Hasselback, Tucker Bounds (throwing him in because he’s catty too), Michelle Bachman, sound like anyone else you know? Like ace said, I just can’t wrap my head around some of the ideas presented in sound bites and clichés.
October 23, 2008 at 8:48 pm #644672
JimmyGMemberOctober 23, 2008 at 8:56 pm #644673
GenHillOneParticipantLOL – okay, being careful…?
October 23, 2008 at 9:20 pm #644674
JimmyGMemberI just figured you’ll get jumped for implying they’re less civilized than the people I’m conversing with in person about politics.
October 24, 2008 at 1:17 am #644675
JoBParticipantOctober 24, 2008 at 1:55 am #644676
flipjackParticipantI’m just wild and crazy about ‘Merica
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